Arena

'Arena' is the story of the resource struggle of a small Afro-descendant village in western Colombia. Surrounded by sugarcane plantations to all sides, the villagers base their livelihoods on manual sand extraction in the nearby river, supplying materials to local and regional construction markets. The river constitutes a fundamental pillar in the village; it is from this that they draw meaning and sustain their community life. To secure their right to the resource, the villagers have several times sought to formalise their activity, but without success. However, a competing mining claim is threatening their livelihoods, and the external claimant has now been granted concession title by the national mining authorities. 'Arena' follows the villagers as they mobilise and appeal to the government institutions to defend their livelihoods and their fundamental rights to work, territory, cultural integrity, and a dignified life.